Making the U.S. grid sturdier, smarter, and more secure to thwart blackouts
Thwarting blackouts
A phenomenon called a “voltage collapse” can cause a blackout when electricity demands reach a critical level, even if there is sufficient power generation to meet the demand. The Northeast Blackout of 2003 led utilities and the government to team up to install a phasor network throughout the United States.
By placing phasor measurement units at critical points in the network, operators can assess system stress. Miroslav Begovic, a professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, helped to develop a methodology that uses the data collected from phasor measurement units. System operators can quickly assess the state of the power system and determine in real time whether it is in danger of a blackout.
Integrating renewable energy sources
Wind, sun, water, wood, organic waste, and geothermal energy generated about 12 percent of the electricity in the United States in 2012.
Georgia Tech’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Strategic Energy Institute, and School of Mechanical Engineering are working together to allow expansion of this percentage. Researcher teams are developing a more distributed and flexible control architecture that supports high levels of renewable energy generation and storage. In addition, they are studying market mechanisms that balance supply and demand in the presence of these energy sources.
This new architecture is based on the emerging concept of “prosumers” — a combination of the words “consumer” and “producer” — which are economically motivated small-scale energy ecosystems that can consume, produce and store electricity. For example, prosumers could include homeowners who consume electricity from the grid while also producing power onsite from solar panels on their homes’ rooftops that feeds back into the grid.
Analyzing energy policies
In recent years, several U.S. states, the federal government, and other countries have adopted or are considering laws, regulations, programs, and requirements aimed at improving power systems.
Researchers from Georgia Tech’s Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and School of Economics are analyzing and recommending policies that promote the path toward the next generation of the electric utility grid.
Securing utilities from cyberattacks
In addition to asset management concerns, utilities are also worried about cyber threats. A National Research Council report warned that a coordinated strike on the electric grid could have devastating effects on the American economy. Georgia Tech researchers have helped secure and protect devices throughout U.S. government and corporate networks for years.
To help prevent cyberattacks, the Georgia Tech Research Institute, National Electric Energy Testing, Research and Applications Center, and the Strategic Energy Institute are working with experts in smart grid technology to develop tools that can detect weaknesses.
What’s next?
Technical, regulatory, and financial obstacles have slowed its worldwide adoption, and it is estimated to take decades for the entire grid renovation. The release says that Georgia Tech researchers continue their development of this transformative technology and the smart grid momentum is growing. In fact, smart grid technology is already a reality in several U.S. cities.
